(pedigree chart for Krayton M Davis on his Great Grandfather's line)

James (Boyer or Bowyer) Shelley, the son of James Boyer and Martha Shelley, was born 7 January 1792 at Chaeton, Shropshire, England. His father was a tiller of the soil. All of his brothers were brought up to be farmers with the exception of James, who was early apprenticed to a shoemaker.

James and Elizabeth were members of the Church of England, the latter not being satisfied with that Church, later joined the Methodist Faith. In the year 1848, Elders of the Mormon Church visited the neighborhood in which the family was living and on December 11, 1848 Elizabeth and her son Thomas were baptized members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints. Soon after, the other members of the family followed.

In February 1851, James Shelley and his family (consisting of Elizabeth, their sons William and his wife and four sons, Thomas and his bride Charlotte of only a few weeks, James, John and Joseph and their daughter Sarah) set sail on the ship "Ellen Maria." After a voyage of several weeks, they landed at New Orleans, April 5, 1851. In a few days, the party proceeded by flat boat up the Mississippi River. When near Memphis, Tennessee, on April 13 the wife, Elizabeth Bray Shelley, was drowned while attempting to draw a bucket of water against a running current.

We quote from the Latter-Day Saints' "Millennial Star," July 1, 1851:

"A sorrowful circumstance transpired in going up the river. Sister Shelley, aged 55 years, wife of James Shelley, from Worcester Conference, in attempting to draw a bucket of water from the stream, while the boat was running ten miles an hour, was suddenly plucked into the water by the force of the mighty current. She floated for a moment, and then sank to rise no more. The engines were stopped immediately, and a boat manned and sent in search of her, but it was unsuccessful in obtaining the body."

"We sympathize with the bereaved husband and family. This is not the first incident of the kind. The Star not long ago contained a similar account and the brethren and sisters were then cautioned against this unwise action."

"When will the Saints be advised and learn wisdom from what experiences teaches? It is the work of the strongest man to reach water from the mighty current of the Mississippi, especially when running against the stream at so rapid a rate; and no female should on any pretense attempt it. We hope this sad occurrence will prove a warning hereafter."